34,000 new classrooms set for groundbreaking this year, Angara says

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara. FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Monday said the groundbreaking of more than 30,000 classrooms will begin this year, as part of efforts to reduce the persistent backlog in school facilities. Angara told lawmakers the construction of about 34,000 classrooms is slated this year, split between 18,000 under the Department of Education and 16,000 under public‑private partnerships. “This is the biggest attempt to make a dent… to improve upon the classroom deficit,” he said, adding that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is “really making an effort to solve this years-old problem.” Article continues after this advertisement Angara said the Philippines faces a backlog of 140,000 classrooms, and Marcos had earlier pledged his administration will build 40,000 classrooms to address that shortage. READ: DepEd completes partnerships with provinces to ease classroom shortage “We have around P60 billion for… new classrooms,” Angara said. In July, DepEd said it has mobilized P49.8 billion out of the P67.9 billion allocated this year for classroom construction. The Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) had warned that the classroom shortage might worsen in the coming years. By 2028, an estimated 51,222 classrooms will be at least 50 years old, making them candidates for condemnation or replacement. /jpv Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.